REGINA — Premier Scott Moe says Saskatchewan’s upcoming provincial budget will include a deficit, but he insists the government will protect key services such as health care and municipal funding.
During his address to delegates at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention in Regina, Moe reaffirmed what he has already said publicly — that a deficit budget is coming on March 18.
“There’s going to be a deficit. It’s larger than I want,” Moe said. “Our goal is zero as a government.”
Moe pointed to other provincial budgets released in the last month and urged people to focus on the “per capita” number.
“Just last month we saw the NDP government in British Columbia. They had a $13 billion deficit… that’s $2,340 per person deficit this year. That’s after raising taxes in the PST, bringing in additional billions of dollars. That’s not the approach we’re taking in Saskatchewan. I can ensure you that we are nowhere near to that level of being in the ditch.”
Moe said that in the immediate term, “we made the choice to protect services, in particular healthcare service.”
He again pointed to the Patients First health care plan that the government announced Monday, including innovations like virtual care and expanding the scope of practice for nurse practitioners.
Moe also pledged to protect municipal expenditures in the budget and pointed to the announcement Tuesday by Minister of Government Relations Eric Schmalz that there is no change to municipal revenue sharing and that it will be a record amount this year.
“We’re not trimming the municipal revenue sharing in any way shape or form, despite running a deficit this year,” Moe said.
Moe’s speech was wide-ranging and included familiar topics including trade and tariffs with China, India and the United States. He also spoke at length about the Saskatchewan Firearms Act changes aimed at further protecting firearms owners during the federal government’s gun buyback.
Following Moe’s speech, the bearpit session began with the premier and members of the provincial cabinet fielding questions from delegates from the floor. Health care, public safety and policing were among the topics discussed.
Later in the afternoon, Opposition Leader Carla Beck was scheduled to speak to delegates as well. The SARM convention is expected to wrap up Thursday.
